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Forum
-> Household Management
-> Cleaning & Laundry
zaq
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 Fri, May 10 2024, 7:32 am
Hi ladies! You know I always post that you have to dry the gasket of your washer after every laundry session, otherwise you will host mold and odors. What I don't tell you anymore (because I know you won't do it) is that you also need to drain the water if your machine has an outlet for that, and remove and dry the detergent drawer and the pigeonhole where the detergent drawer fits. You should also occasionally remove and clean the "coin catcher" if your machine has one.
Now, I do faithfully dry the gasket, drain the water and remove and dry the detergent drawer after ever laundry session, but for some time I've not been drying the pigeonhole because I figured it air dries while the drawer itself dries. Makes sense, right? However, the other day I noticed a mild "laundry" odor, nothing horrible, but I'm a little paranoid about odors and like to get rid of them asap. So I did some detective work, which involved getting up close and personal with parts of the machine I don't even know how to name.
WHOA, NELLIE, HOLD THE PHONE! Black furry mold had taken up residence inside that detergent drawer pigeonhole. You know that space: it's small, narrow, irregular, with lots of little nooks and crannies. And it's dark. And wet. Long story short, cleanup involved holding a flashlight in my mouth; contorting my hands , neck and back in ways they were never meant to move; bleach; lots of cotton swabs and toothpicks to get into such nooks and crannies as I could reach; and an old toothbrush to get into such spaces as it could reach. It took over an hour I'll never get back, and I'm still not sure I eradicated all the little momzers.
So when zaq advises you to DRY YOUR MACHINE, she knows whereof she speaks. And if you don't, do not expect any sympathy from me when you complain about mold in your machine. You was warned.
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amf
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Fri, May 10 2024, 7:37 am
Dear Zaq,
Please write a motivational how-to-clean book. My life has been sorely missing it and I didn't even know.
Love,
The procrastination queen
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ra_mom
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Fri, May 10 2024, 7:50 am
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Thank you so much for this reminder zaq! You're motivating me to take a look at my machines parts as quickly as possible.
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North Star
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Fri, Aug 30 2024, 7:23 am
This post popped up under related posts, so apologies for bumping up a slightly older thread.
I’m in the market for a new washing machine. My question is, is there a way to avoid needing to do this? Is this only for front load or is it top loading machines too? Because ain’t nobody got time for that, and if I can avoid needing to do this I’d love to!
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amother
Puce
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Fri, Aug 30 2024, 7:27 am
| North Star wrote: | This post popped up under related posts, so apologies for bumping up a slightly older thread.
I’m in the market for a new washing machine. My question is, is there a way to avoid needing to do this? Is this only for front load or is it top loading machines too? Because ain’t nobody got time for that, and if I can avoid needing to do this I’d love to! |
Correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think top loaders have this detergent draw. You need rto pour your detergent into the machine yourself so I guess Zaq's post isn't nogeah for a front loader.
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amother
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Fri, Aug 30 2024, 7:34 am
| zaq wrote: | Hi ladies! You know I always post that you have to dry the gasket of your washer after every laundry session, otherwise you will host mold and odors. What I don't tell you anymore (because I know you won't do it) is that you also need to drain the water if your machine has an outlet for that, and remove and dry the detergent drawer and the pigeonhole where the detergent drawer fits. You should also occasionally remove and clean the "coin catcher" if your machine has one.
Now, I do faithfully dry the gasket, drain the water and remove and dry the detergent drawer after ever laundry session, but for some time I've not been drying the pigeonhole because I figured it air dries while the drawer itself dries. Makes sense, right? However, the other day I noticed a mild "laundry" odor, nothing horrible, but I'm a little paranoid about odors and like to get rid of them asap. So I did some detective work, which involved getting up close and personal with parts of the machine I don't even know how to name.
WHOA, NELLIE, HOLD THE PHONE! Black furry mold had taken up residence inside that detergent drawer pigeonhole. You know that space: it's small, narrow, irregular, with lots of little nooks and crannies. And it's dark. And wet. Long story short, cleanup involved holding a flashlight in my mouth; contorting my hands , neck and back in ways they were never meant to move; bleach; lots of cotton swabs and toothpicks to get into such nooks and crannies as I could reach; and an old toothbrush to get into such spaces as it could reach. It took over an hour I'll never get back, and I'm still not sure I eradicated all the little momzers.
So when zaq advises you to DRY YOUR MACHINE, she knows whereof she speaks. And if you don't, do not expect any sympathy from me when you complain about mold in your machine. You was warned. |
Where is this pigeon hole? I have a front loader and I’ve every cleaning tip and trick and my laundry still has an odor 
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boat
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Fri, Aug 30 2024, 8:13 am
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There are newer machines that have a venting cycle.
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cnc
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Fri, Aug 30 2024, 8:15 am
| amother Puce wrote: | | Correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think top loaders have this detergent draw. You need rto pour your detergent into the machine yourself so I guess Zaq's post isn't nogeah for a front loader. |
I have a top loader and it has the drawer.
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zaq
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Fri, Aug 30 2024, 2:09 pm
| amother Lemonlime wrote: | | Where is this pigeon hole? I have a front loader and I’ve every cleaning tip and trick and my laundry still has an odor |
Do you have a detergent drawer (may also have a compartment for bleach and/or fabric softener and/or prewash) that you slide forward to fill and push back in? Check your user manual; there's usually a lever or button you press to release it so you can pull it out of the machine. The space out of which the drawer slides is that sneaky pigeonhole (I'm sure it has a technical term) where water collects and you would never know.
Update: I discovered that water continues to collect there for at least several hours--presumably draining from the hoses-- so I wait a few hours or even a day and never replace the drawer without first checking and drying the residual water.
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amother
Moonstone
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Fri, Aug 30 2024, 3:01 pm
Wow. I never knew any of this. Thanks.
Gonna try to check this out after Shabbos.
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amother
Fern
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Fri, Aug 30 2024, 3:20 pm
I don’t use detergent there because I use pods.
Does that matter ?
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LittleDucky
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Fri, Aug 30 2024, 3:34 pm
| amother Fern wrote: | I don’t use detergent there because I use pods.
Does that matter ? |
Probably because the machine doesn't know you use pods so it sends water there anyways.
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zaq
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Sat, Aug 31 2024, 6:46 pm
| amother Fern wrote: | I don’t use detergent there because I use pods.
Does that matter ? |
No, there is no "pod" or "powder detergent" setting on the machine. The water will stream from the same place regardless.
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amother
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Sat, Aug 31 2024, 6:49 pm
| zaq wrote: | Do you have a detergent drawer (may also have a compartment for bleach and/or fabric softener and/or prewash) that you slide forward to fill and push back in? Check your user manual; there's usually a lever or button you press to release it so you can pull it out of the machine. The space out of which the drawer slides is that sneaky pigeonhole (I'm sure it has a technical term) where water collects and you would never know.
Update: I discovered that water continues to collect there for at least several hours--presumably draining from the hoses-- so I wait a few hours or even a day and never replace the drawer without first checking and drying the residual water. |
I removed the drawer and I don’t see mold anywhere. I did a cycle with bleach, baking soda and vinegar, affresh… I always leave the door open after using. And my laundry still has a weird odor
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B'Syata D'Shmya
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Sat, Aug 31 2024, 7:51 pm
| amother Lemonlime wrote: | | I removed the drawer and I don’t see mold anywhere. I did a cycle with bleach, baking soda and vinegar, affresh… I always leave the door open after using. And my laundry still has a weird odor |
Not all together I hope, I was told first a cycle with bleach, then a separate cycle with vinegar then a cycle of baking soda (one cup).
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amother
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Sat, Aug 31 2024, 7:52 pm
| B'Syata D'Shmya wrote: | | Not all together I hope, I was told first a cycle with bleach, then a separate cycle with vinegar then a cycle of baking soda (one cup). |
Right, not all together lol. A few days apart
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chocolate moose
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Sun, Sep 01 2024, 4:02 pm
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Wolfsbane
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Sun, Sep 01 2024, 4:38 pm
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Wow, front-loading washing machines are a lot of work.
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